2304UT 13 32.74’S 143 05.78’W
Sailing/Motoring/sweating
Our third day underway has been reminiscent of a good day sailing in my home waters of San Francesco Bay - a day of variety with a little of everything thrown in. On a good day on the bay, it is usual to experience the doldrums, fierce gusts, a mix of clouds and bright sunshine. Not to mention variable and commanding tidal currents!
The day started for me on the midnight to 3 a.m. watch with the Milky Way, southern stars, and a bright waning gibbous moon to light our passage. The wind was steady and Falken cut through the swell with grace. Heading down below at the end of the watch, I reflected on how fortunate I was to be here with a great crew and boat, steering by the Southern Cross on such a beautiful night.
I was woken at about 4:30 a.m. to the sound of a reef being set and noticed the cooler, damper air and increased bustle of Falken pushing harder through more chaotic water. A squall was coming by. Wedging myself into my bunk a bit more, I settled back to sleep in the knowledge that we were all in good hands.
Waking shortly after dawn, I heard the iron sail pushing us forward in still air with the main up and the yankee furled. Another squall rolled through soon after and brought back the Trades behind it, prompting another sail plan change to get us back to sailing. By this time, I decided I was missing the fun and fell out of my bunk to head into the cockpit.
The morning brought more squalls and highly variable winds, as a settled low to the south, and squalls from the northeast battened down the usually reliable Trade winds. The morning was passed working to keep the boat progressing to course while enjoying the occasional heaven-sent shower, interspersed with warm weather to dry us out. The weather finally settled back into what we had expected with steady Trades and hot and sunny skies. Everyone missed the fresh cooling rain so much that the shower room was opened for the afternoon, and the crew celebrated the trip so far with a container of ice-cold water and plenty of snacking opportunities.
Looking ahead, more variety is in store for us according to the forecast and also the timing of our arrival at the Tuomotos. However, we are all reveling in the place and the moment, assured that Falken and the staff crew will make this an adventure to remember, and that we — the crew — have been well instructed and have built the capability and confidence to make the most of this variety and adventure!
Steve
View more passage logs
Farewell by dolphins
We headed out of the marina in Monterey CA at about 10AM in sunny weather to meet winds of ~20kts and 3m smooth swell with long periods. FALKEN is surfing along the coast of California, ship’s time 1PM as I write. As we motored out into the bay, we were wished farewell by a pod of dolphins nearby and a couple of whales in the distance. Though, unfortunately one crew member met the green dragon in the swell.
The Human Factor
Thus our existence slowly reverted to a much simpler form of being. We start to notice the smaller things, we start looking up and around, we start observing our thoughts. Sailing can be a great social accelerator. Sharing hardship and milestones, friendships are born and evolve at a speed that would seem impossible from land. And after those three weeks spent with you, I am getting ready to leave our vessel with the profound conviction that those bonds will stay with us for the rest of our lives.
The Penultimate Blog from Adrienne II
After 20 days, and 3000+ nautical miles, we're back on land. The motley crew of Adrienne II, consisting of 7 happy amateurs supported by 3 professionals, have completed an epic journey many dream of but few realize. So much of this trip has been about being present - with nature, with each other, with this boat. My biggest takeaway from this trip is the amazing crossing of the ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone). We all hope you've enjoyed the blog as much as we've enjoyed creating it.
